Investors

Cracker Barrel Reports Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 and Reaffirms Earnings Guidance for Fiscal 2017

February 21, 2017 at 8:30 AM EST

LEBANON, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ("Cracker Barrel" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CBRL) today reported its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 ended January 27, 2017.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 Highlights

  • Compared to the prior year second quarter, comparable store restaurant sales increased 0.6%, marking the Company's eleventh consecutive quarter of positive comparable store restaurant sales.
  • Operating income as a percent of total revenue increased 150 basis points, over the prior year quarter, to 10.7%.
  • Earnings per diluted share were $2.19, compared to GAAP earnings per diluted share of $2.01 in the prior year quarter, an increase of 9.0%. Adjusted for the impact of the prior year retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit ("WOTC"), earnings per diluted share increased 15% from adjusted EPS of $1.91 in the prior year quarter. (See non-GAAP reconciliation below.)

Commenting on the second quarter, Cracker Barrel President and Chief Executive Officer Sandra B. Cochran said, "I am pleased to report another significant increase in earnings per diluted share. We delivered second quarter operating margin growth largely driven by continued commodity favorability and the success of our cost reduction initiatives. As we look to the second half of this fiscal year, our teams remain focused on executing at the store level, providing the great food, friendly service, welcoming atmosphere and retail shopping experience that differentiates our brand from our competitors."

Second Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

Revenue

The Company reported total revenue of $772.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, representing an increase of 1.1% over the second quarter of the prior year. Comparable store restaurant sales increased 0.6%, including a 2.7% increase in average check partially offset by a 2.1% decrease in comparable store restaurant traffic. The average menu price increase for the quarter was approximately 2.1%. Comparable store retail sales decreased 2.2% from the prior year quarter.

Comparable store restaurant traffic, average check and comparable store restaurant sales and retail sales for the fiscal months of November, December and January and the second quarter were as follows:

 


November

December(1,2)

January(2)

Second Quarter

Comparable restaurant traffic

0.8%

-1.0%

-5.7%

-2.1%

Average check

2.6%

3.0%

2.6%

2.7%

Comparable restaurant sales

3.4%

2.0%

-3.1%

0.6%

Comparable retail sales

-1.7%

-2.6%

-1.9%

-2.2%


(1) The Company estimates inclement weather in December reduced traffic and sales by approximately 1.6%.

(2) The Company estimates the Christmas fiscal calendar timing shift, from fiscal December in the prior year to fiscal January in the current year, increased December traffic and sales by approximately 5.7% while reducing January traffic and sales by approximately 5.0%.

 

Operating Income
Operating income in the second quarter was $82.7 million, or 10.7% of total revenue, an increase over the prior year quarter result of $70.5 million, or 9.2% of total revenue. As a percentage of total revenue, reductions in cost of goods sold, other store operating expenses, and general and administrative expenses were partially offset by an increase in labor and related expenses.

Diluted Earnings per Share
Earnings per diluted share were $2.19, compared to GAAP EPS of $2.01 in the prior year quarter, an increase of 9.0%. Adjusted for the impact of the prior year retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, earnings per diluted share increased 15% from adjusted EPS of $1.91 in the prior year quarter. (For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables accompanying this release.)

Fiscal 2017 Outlook
The Company reaffirmed its previous earnings guidance and expects to report earnings per diluted share for the 2017 fiscal year between $8.10 and $8.25. The Company now expects total revenue of approximately $2.95 billion, reflecting the expected opening of eight new Cracker Barrel stores and four new Holler & Dash Biscuit House restaurants. The Company now expects comparable store restaurant sales of between 0.5% and 1.0% and comparable store retail sales of approximately -2.0%, reflecting the Company's more cautious expectations for the second half of the fiscal year. The Company expects food commodity deflation of approximately 4.0% for the year. The Company projects an operating income margin in the range of 10.0% and 10.5% of total revenue for fiscal 2017. The Company expects depreciation expense between $85 million and $87 million; net interest expense of approximately $15 million; and capital expenditures of approximately $125 million. The Company anticipates an effective tax rate for fiscal 2017 of approximately 32%.

The Company expects to report earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of 2017 of between $1.75 and $1.85. The Company reminds investors that its outlook for fiscal 2017 reflects a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company's control.

Fiscal 2017 Second Quarter Conference Call
As previously announced, the live broadcast of Cracker Barrel's quarterly conference call will be available to the public on-line at investor.crackerbarrel.com today beginning at 11:00 a.m. (ET). The on-line replay will be available at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and continue through March 7, 2017.

About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurants serve up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as our signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 641 company-owned Cracker Barrel locations and four company-owned Holler & Dash Biscuit House locations across 43 states. Every Cracker Barrel store is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: crackerbarrel.com.

CBRL-F

Except for specific historical information, certain of the matters discussed in this press release may express or imply projections of revenues or expenditures, statements of plans and objectives or future operations or statements of future economic performance. These, and similar statements are forward-looking statements concerning matters that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual performance of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. and its subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by this discussion. All forward-looking information is subject to completion of our financial procedures for Q2 FY 2017 and is provided pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "trends," "assumptions," "target," "guidance," "outlook," "opportunity," "future," "plans," "goals," "objectives," "expectations," "near-term," "long-term," "projection," "may," "will," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "potential," "regular," "should," "projects," "forecasts," or "continue" (or the negative or other derivatives of each of these terms) or similar terminology and include the expected effects of operational improvement initiatives, such as new menu items and retail offerings. Factors which could materially affect actual results include, but are not limited to: the effects of uncertain consumer confidence, higher costs for energy, general or regional economic weakness, weather on sales and customer travel, discretionary income or personal expenditure activity of our customers; our ability to identify, acquire and sell successful new lines of retail merchandise and new menu items at our restaurants; our ability to sustain or the effects of plans intended to improve operational or marketing execution and performance; changes in or implementation of additional governmental or regulatory rules, regulations and interpretations affecting tax, wage and hour matters, health and safety, pensions, insurance or other undeterminable areas; the effects of plans intended to promote or protect our brands and products; commodity price increases; the ability of and cost to us to recruit, train, and retain qualified hourly and management employees in an escalating wage environment; the effects of increased competition at our locations on sales and on labor recruiting, cost, and retention; workers' compensation, group health and utility price changes; consumer behavior based on negative publicity or concerns over nutritional or safety aspects of our food or products or those of the restaurant industry in general, including concerns about pandemics, as well as the possible effects of such events on the price or availability of ingredients used in our restaurants; the effects of our indebtedness and associated restrictions on our financial and operating flexibility and ability to execute or pursue our operating plans and objectives; changes in interest rates or capital market conditions affecting our financing costs and ability to refinance all or portions of our indebtedness; the effects of business trends on the outlook for individual restaurant locations and the effect on the carrying value of those locations; our ability to retain key personnel; the availability and cost of suitable sites for restaurant development and our ability to identify those sites; our ability to enter successfully into new geographic markets that may be less familiar to us; changes in land, building materials and construction costs; the actual results of pending, future or threatened litigation or governmental investigations and the costs and effects of negative publicity associated with these activities; practical or psychological effects of natural disasters or terrorist acts or war and military or government responses; disruptions to our restaurant or retail supply chain; changes in foreign exchange rates affecting our future retail inventory purchases; implementation of new or changes in interpretation of existing accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"); and other factors described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, and other communications. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein, or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which made. We expressly disclaim any intent, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

 

 



 

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts, percentages and ratios) 

 

 


   Second Quarter Ended  


Six Months Ended






Percentage






Percentage

1/27/17


1/29/16


Change


1/27/17


1/29/16


Change

Total revenue

$772,682


$764,002


1%


$1,482,653


$1,466,631


1%

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and rent)

254,920


264,932


(4)


468,029


487,905


(4)

Labor and other related expenses

259,270


251,935


3


508,374


496,257


2

Other store operating expenses

140,979


141,103


(0)


278,905


276,810


1

Store operating income

117,513


106,032


11


227,345


205,659


11

General and administrative expenses

34,817


35,507


(2)


68,905


69,826


(1)

Operating income

82,696


70,525


17


158,440


135,833


17

Interest expense

3,638


3,569


2


7,314


7,113


3

Pretax income

79,058


66,956


18


151,126


128,720


17

Provision for income taxes

26,331


18,714


41


50,044


39,613


26

Net income

$52,727


$48,242


9


$101,082


$89,107


13













Earnings per share - Basic:

$2.19


$2.02


8


$4.21


$3.72


13

Earnings per share - Diluted:

$2.19


$2.01


9


$4.19


$3.70


13













Weighted average shares:












    Basic

24,040,243


23,937,812


0


24,020,976


23,947,183


0

    Diluted

24,109,000


24,047,042


0


24,106,748


24,060,047


0













Ratio Analysis












Total revenue:












    Restaurant

76.5%


76.0%




78.6%


77.9%



    Retail

23.5


24.0




21.4


22.1



            Total revenue

100.0


100.0




100.0


100.0



Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and rent)

33.0


34.7




31.6


33.3



Labor and other related expenses

33.6


33.0




34.3


33.8



Other store operating expenses

18.2


18.4




18.8


18.9



Store operating income

15.2


13.9




15.3


14.0



General and administrative expenses

4.5


4.7




4.6


4.7



Operating income

10.7


9.2




10.7


9.3



Interest expense

0.5


0.5




0.5


0.5



Pretax income

10.2


8.7




10.2


8.8



Provision for income taxes

3.4


2.4




3.4


2.7



Net income

6.8%


6.3%




6.8%


6.1%















 

 


 

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share amounts)

 


1/27/17


1/29/16


Assets





   Cash and cash equivalents

$185,698


$171,643


   Accounts receivable

19,654


15,900


   Income tax receivable

0


2,447


   Inventory

155,879


150,959


   Prepaid expenses

18,727


18,289


   Deferred income taxes

2,252


5,795


   Property and equipment, net

1,088,612


1,048,715


   Other long-term assets

64,069


63,051


Total assets

$1,534,891


$1,476,799







Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity





   Accounts payable

$100,388


$91,474


   Other current liabilities

259,247


234,854


   Long-term debt

400,000


400,000


   Interest rate swap liability

6,538


15,649


   Other long-term obligations

126,607


134,552


   Deferred income taxes

60,394


45,401


   Shareholders' equity, net

581,717


554,869


Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$1,534,891


$1,476,799












Common shares issued and outstanding

24,042,573


23,939,248








 

 


CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

(Unaudited and in thousands)


Six Months Ended


1/27/17


1/29/16

Cash flows from operating activities:




             Net income

$101,082


$89,107

             Depreciation and amortization

41,830


37,783

             Loss on disposition of property and equipment

2,472


2,667

             Share-based compensation, net of excess tax benefit

2,808


3,007

             (Increase) decrease in inventories

(3,571)


2,099

             (Decrease) in accounts payable

(32,105)


(41,643)

             Net changes in other assets and liabilities

36,986


(7,407)

                           Net cash provided by operating activities

149,502


85,613

Cash flows from investing activities:




             Purchase of property and equipment, net of insurance recoveries

(52,934)


(36,797)

             Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

412


472

                           Net cash (used in) investing activities

(52,522)


(36,325)

Cash flows from financing activities:




              (Taxes withheld) from exercise of share-based compensation awards, net

(6,031)


(5,343)

              Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

1,203


1,948

              Purchases and retirement of common stock

0


(14,653)

              Dividends on common stock

(57,420)


(125,052)

                           Net cash (used in) financing activities

(62,248)


(143,100)





Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

34,732


(93,812)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

150,966


265,455

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$185,698


$171,643






 

 


CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.

Supplemental Information

(Unaudited)


Second Quarter Ended


Six Months Ended


1/27/17


1/29/16


1/27/17


1/29/16









Units in operation:








     Open at beginning of period

643


635


641


637

     Opened during period

2


0


4


0

     (Closed) during period

0


0


0


(2)

     Open at end of period

645


635


645


635









Total revenue: (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$591,113


$580,918


$1,164,790


$1,143,197

      Retail

181,569


183,084


317,863


323,434

      Total revenue

$772,682


$764,002


$1,482,653


$1,466,631









Cost of goods sold: (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$153,316


$164,776


$298,852


$319,566

      Retail

101,604


100,156


169,177


168,339

      Total cost of goods sold

$254,920


$264,932


$468,029


$487,905









  Average unit volume: (In thousands)








      Restaurant

$917.6


$914.9


$1,811.3


$1,798.0

      Retail

281.8


288.3


494.3


508.7

      Total

$1,199.4


$1,203.2


$2,305.6


$2,306.7









Operating weeks:

8,375


8,255


16,720


16,531



























Q2 2017 vs. Q2 2016


6 mo. 2017 vs. 6 mo. 2016






Comparable store sales period to period increase (decrease):

Restaurant


0.6%


0.9%

Retail


(2.2%)


(3.0%)






Number of locations in comparable store base:



632


632











 

 

CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP basis operating
results to adjusted non-GAAP operating results
(Unaudited and in thousands)

In the accompanying press release the Company makes reference to As Adjusted provision for taxes and net income per share before the impact of the retroactive restatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The Company believes that excluding this item and its related tax effects from its financial results reflects operating results that are more indicative of the Company's ongoing operating performance while improving comparability to prior periods, and, as such may provide investors with an enhanced understanding of the Company's past financial performance and prospects for the future. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income or earnings per share information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 


Second Quarter ended January 27, 2017


Second Quarter ended January 29, 2016


As Reported

Adjust

As Adjusted


As Reported

Adjust

As Adjusted







(1)










Store operating income

$117,513

$-

$117,513


$106,032

$-

$106,032

General and administrative expenses

34,817

-

34,817


35,507

-

35,507

Operating income

82,696

-

82,696


70,525

-

70,525

Interest Expense

3,638

-

3,638


3,569

-

3,569

Pretax income

79,058

-

79,058


66,956

-

66,956

Provision for income taxes

26,331

-

26,331


18,714

2,292

21,006

Net income

$52,727

$-

$52,727


$48,242

($2,292)

$45,950









Earnings per share - Basic

$2.19

$-

$2.19


$2.02

($0.10)

$1.92

Earnings per share - Diluted

$2.19

$-

$2.19


$2.01

($0.10)

$1.91


















Six Months ended January 27, 2017


Six Months ended January 29, 2016


As Reported

Adjust

As Adjusted


As Reported

Adjust

As Adjusted







(1)










Store operating income

$227,345

$-

$227,345


$205,659

$-

$205,659

General and administrative expenses

68,905

-

68,905


69,826

-

69,826

Operating income

158,440

-

158,440


135,833

-

135,833

Interest Expense

7,314

-

7,314


7,113

-

7,113

Pretax income

151,126

-

151,126


128,720

-

128,720

Provision for income taxes

50,044

-

50,044


39,613

2,292

41,905

Net income

$101,082

$-

$101,082


$89,107

($2,292)

$86,815









Earnings per share - Basic

$4.21

$-

$4.21


$3.72

($0.09)

$3.63

Earnings per share - Diluted

$4.19

$-

$4.19


$3.70

($0.09)

$3.61

(1) Provision for income taxes adjusted to exclude the prior year favorable effect of the retroactive reinstatement of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

 

Investor Contact:        

Jessica Hazel


(615) 235-4367



Media Contact:            

Janella Escobar


(615) 235-4618

 

 

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SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

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